2017–18 Bucknell Bison men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode=Basketball
|year=2017–18
|team=Bucknell Bison
|image=Bucknell Bison wordmark.png
|image_size=250
|conference=Patriot League
|division=
|short_conf=Patriot
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=25–10
|conf_record=16–2
|head_coach=Nathan Davis
|hc_year = 3rd
|asst_coach1=Paul Harrison
|asst_coach2=John Griffin
|asst_coach3=Joe Meehan
|asst_coach4=
|stadium=Sojka Pavilion
|champion= Patriot League tournament champions
Patriot League regular season champions
|bowl= NCAA tournament
|bowl_result = First Round
}}
{{2017–18 Patriot League men's basketball standings}}
The 2017–18 Bucknell Bison men's basketball team represented Bucknell University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bison, led by third-year head coach Nathan Davis, played their home games at Sojka Pavilion in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania as members of the Patriot League. They finished the season 25–10, 16–2 in Patriot League to win the Patriot League regular season championship. They defeated Loyola (MD), Boston University, and Colgate to win the Patriot League tournament championship. As a result, they received the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Michigan State.
Previous season
The Bison finished the 2016–17 season 23–8, 15–3 in Patriot League play to win the regular season championship, their third straight title and sixth in seven years.{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriotleague.org/news/2017/2/22/MBB_0222172127.aspx|title=Patriot League Men's Basketball Notebook (2.22.17)|website=Patriot League|language=en|access-date=2017-02-23}} In the Patriot League tournament, they defeated Army,{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400944792|title=Army vs. Bucknell – Game Recap – March 2, 2017 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-11-09}} Navy,{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400945333|title=Navy vs. Bucknell – Game Recap – March 5, 2017 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-11-09}} and Lehigh to win the tournament championship.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/mc-lehigh-bucknell-patriot-league-final-20170308-story.html|title=Bucknell beats Lehigh to win Patriot League men's basketball tournament title|last=Miller|first=Stephen|work=themorningcall.com|access-date=2017-11-09|language=en-US}} As a result, the Bison received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 13 seed in the West region.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bucknellbison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211518063|title=Bison Earn 13 Seed in NCAA Tournament, Will Play WVU in Buffalo on Thursday|work=BucknellBison.com|access-date=2017-11-09}} There they lost in the first round to West Virginia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400946450|title=Bucknell vs. West Virginia – Game Recap – March 16, 2017 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-11-09}}
Offseason
= 2017 recruiting class =
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2017}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Jimmy Sotos
| position = PG
| hometown = Elk Grove Village, IL
| highschool = Conant
| feet = 6
| inches = 3
| weight = 180
| 40 =
| commitdate =
| scout stars =
| rivals stars =
| 247 stars =
| espn grade =
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = John Meeks
| position = SF
| hometown = Burlington, NC
| highschool = The Burlington School
| feet = 6
| inches = 6
| weight = 240
| 40 =
| commitdate =
| scout stars =
| rivals stars =
| 247 stars =
| espn grade =
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Paul Newman
| position = F
| hometown = Philadelphia, Pa
| highschool = St. Andrews School
| feet = 6
| inches = 9
| weight = 240
| 40 =
| commitdate =
| scout stars =
| rivals stars =
| 247 stars =
| espn grade =
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| 40 =
| year = 2017
| rivals ref title = 2017 Bucknell Signees
| scout ref title = 2017 Bucknell Signees
| espn ref title = 2017 Bucknell Signees
| rivals school =
| scout s =
| espn schoolid =
| scout overall =
| rivals overall =
| espn overall =
| accessdate = Nov 9, 2017
| bball = yes
}}
Preseason
In a preseason poll of league head coaches and sports information directors, Bucknell was picked to win the Patriot League, receiving all 18 first-place votes.{{Cite web|url=http://patriotleague.org/news/2017/10/18/mens-basketball-bucknell-selected-as-preseason-favorite-nana-foulland-picked-as-preseason-player-of-the-year.aspx|title=Patriot League – Bucknell Selected as Preseason Favorite; Nana Foulland Picked as Preseason Player of the Year|website=patriotleague.org|language=en|access-date=2017-11-09}} Senior center Nana Foulland was named the preseason Patriot League Player of the Year. Senior forward Zach Thomas was also named to the preseason All-Patriot League first team.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=2017|team=Bucknell Bison|teamcolors=y|high_school=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Paul
|last=Newman
|num=0
|pos=C
|ft=6
|in=9
|lbs=195
|class=JR
|rs=
|home=Philadelphia, PA
|high_school=St. Andrews School
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Kimbal
|last=Mackenzie
|num=1
|pos=G
|ft=6
|in=1
|lbs=160
|class=JR
|rs=
|home=Oakville, Ontario
|high_school=John Carrol
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Stephen
|last=Brown
|num=2
|pos=G
|ft=5
|in=11
|lbs=160
|class=SR
|rs=
|home=Manassas, VA
|high_school=Christ Chapel
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Jimmy
|last=Sotos
|num=3
|pos=G
|ft=6
|in=3
|lbs=193
|class=FR
|rs=
|home=Elk Grove Village, IL
|high_school=Conant
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Nate
|last=Sestina
|link=y
|num=4
|pos=F
|ft=6
|in=9
|lbs=247
|class=JR
|rs=
|home=Emporium, PA
|high_school=Cameron County
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Jordan
|last=Sechan
|num=5
|pos=G
|ft=6
|in=0
|lbs=168
|class=FR
|rs=
|home=New Canaan, CT
|high_school=Northfield mount Hermon
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Avi
|last=Toomer
|num=11
|pos=G
|ft=6
|in=3
|lbs=188
|class=SO
|rs=
|home=Atlanta, GA
|high_school=Grady
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= John
|last=Meeks
|dab=basketball player
|link=y
|num=12
|pos=F
|ft=6
|in=6
|lbs=225
|class=FR
|rs=
|home=Burlington, NC
|high_school=The Burlington School
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Bruce
|last=Moore
|num=13
|pos=F
|ft=6
|in=8
|lbs=213
|class=SO
|rs=
|home=Randallstown, MD
|high_school=McDonogh
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Ben
|last=Robinson
|num=14
|pos=G
|ft=6
|in=5
|lbs=200
|class=SO
|rs=
|home=High Point, NC
|high_school=High Point Christian
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Nate
|last=Jones
|num=15
|pos=G
|ft=6
|in=5
|lbs=209
|class=JR
|rs=
|home=Radford, VA
|high_school=Radford
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Nana
|last=Foulland
|link=y
|num=20
|pos=C
|ft=6
|in=10
|lbs=235
|class=SR
|rs=
|home=Reading, PA
|high_school=Berks Catholic
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Matt
|last=O'Reilly
|num=22
|pos=G
|ft=6
|in=3
|lbs=195
|class=JR
|rs=
|home=Moraga, CA
|high_school=Prolific Prep Academy
}}
{{CBB roster/Player
|first= Zach
|last=Thomas
|dab=basketball
|link=y
|num=23
|pos=F
|ft=6
|in=7
|lbs=195
|class=SR
|rs=
|home=Ijamsville, MD
|high_school=Oakdale
}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Nathan Davis ({{college|Randolph–Macon}})
|asst_coach=
- Paul Harrison ({{college|Washington and Lee}})
- John Griffin ({{college|Bucknell}})
- Joe Meehan ({{college|Lebanon Valley}})
|roster_url=http://www.bucknellbison.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=32100&SPID=137628&SPSID=810390
|accessdate=Nov 9, 2017
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=|ranklink=2017-18 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2017|tv=|record=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Bucknell Bison}}|Exhibition
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Oct 28, 2017
| time = 1:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Towson
| site_stadium = SECU Arena
| site_cityst = Towson, MD
| score = 86–93
| attend = 434
| record =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Bucknell Bison}}| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 10, 2017
| time = 8:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Monmouth
| site_stadium = OceanFirst Bank Center
| site_cityst = West Long Branch, NJ
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 78–79
| attend = 3,159
| record = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 12, 2017
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Arkansas
| site_stadium = Bud Walton Arena
| site_cityst = Fayetteville, AR
| tv = SECN
| score = 73–101
| attend = 6,477
| record = 0–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 15, 2017
| time = 8:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = North Carolina
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Dean E. Smith Center
| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC
| tv = ACCN
| score = 81–93
| attend = 13,941
| record = 0–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 18, 2017
| time = 8:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Maryland
| site_stadium = Xfinity Center
| site_cityst = College Park, MD
| tv = BTN
| score = 78–80
| attend = 13,303
| record = 0–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 20, 2017
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Siena
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 115–92
| attend = 2,053
| record = 1–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 22, 2017
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Ball State
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 87–83
| attend = 2,217
| record = 2–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 26, 2017
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Stony Brook
| site_stadium = Island Federal Credit Union Arena
| site_cityst = Stony Brook, NY
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 85–76
| attend = 2,367
| record = 3–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 29, 2017
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Saint Joseph's
| site_stadium = Hagan Arena
| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA
| score = 73–80
| attend = 3,783
| record = 3–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 2, 2017
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Vermont
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 81–77
| attend = 3,044
| record = 4–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 5, 2017
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Northeastern
| site_stadium = Matthews Arena
| site_cityst = Boston, MA
| tv = NESN+
| score = 64–82
| attend = 779
| record = 4–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 16, 2017
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = VCU
| site_stadium = Siegel Center
| site_cityst = Richmond, VA
| score = 79–85
| attend = 7,637
| record = 4–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 19, 2017
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Richmond
| site_stadium = Robins Center
| site_cityst = Richmond, VA
| score = 86–78
| attend = 5,501
| record = 5–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 22, 2017
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = La Salle
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 88–81
| attend = 2,553
| record = 6–7
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Bucknell Bison}}| Patriot League regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 29, 2017
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = American
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 84–55
| attend = 2,782
| record = 7–7
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 2, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Boston University
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 79–84
| attend = 2,018
| record = 7–8
| conference = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 5, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Army
| site_stadium = Christl Arena
| site_cityst = West Point, NY
| score = 83–66
| attend = 1,073
| record = 8–8
| conference = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 8, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Lafayette
| site_stadium = Kirby Sports Center
| site_cityst = Easton, PA
| score = 80–75
| overtime = OT
| attend = 986
| record = 9–8
| conference = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 11, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Lehigh
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 78–65
| attend = 2,404
| record = 10–8
| conference = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 15, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Colgate
| site_stadium = Cotterell Court
| site_cityst = Hamilton, NY
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 63–51
| attend = 819
| record = 11–8
| conference = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 17, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Loyola (MD)
| site_stadium = Reitz Arena
| site_cityst = Baltimore, MD
| score = 78–70
| attend = 1,024
| record = 12–8
| conference = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 20, 2018
| time = 12:00 pm
| opponent = Holy Cross
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 77–56
| attend = 3,031
| record = 13–8
| conference = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 24, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Navy
| site_stadium = Alumni Hall
| site_cityst = Annapolis, MD
| score = 87–67
| attend = 1,634
| record = 14–8
| conference = 8–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 28, 2018
| time = 12:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Boston University
| site_stadium = Case Gym
| site_cityst = Boston, MA
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 91–79
| attend = 900
| record = 15–8
| conference = 9–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 31, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Army
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 83–71
| overtime = OT
| attend = 2,243
| record = 16–8
| conference = 10–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 3, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Lafayette
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 74–59
| attend = 3,509
| record = 17–8
| conference = 11–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 5, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Lehigh
| site_stadium = Stabler Arena
| site_cityst = Bethlehem, PA
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 89–92
| overtime = OT
| attend = 1,126
| record = 17–9
| conference = 11–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 12, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Colgate
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 65–64
| attend = 2,395
| record = 18–9
| conference = 12–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 14, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Loyola (MD)
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 94–53
| attend = 2,208
| record = 19–9
| conference = 13–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 17, 2018
| time = 12:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Holy Cross
| site_stadium = Hart Center
| site_cityst = Worcester, MA
| score = 68–67
| overtime = OT
| attend = 1,818
| record = 20–9
| conference = 14–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 21, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| opponent = Navy
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| score = 85–61
| attend = 2,869
| record = 21–9
| conference = 15–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 24, 2018
| time = 2:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = American
| site_stadium = Bender Arena
| site_cityst = Washington, D.C.
| score = 80–61
| attend = 1,298
| record = 22–9
| conference = 16–2
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Bucknell Bison}}| 2018 Patriot League men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 1, 2018
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = w
| seed = 1
| opponent = Loyola (MD)
| oppseed = 8
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| tv = PLN
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| score = 83–78
| attend = 2,492
| record = 23–9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 4, 2018
| time = 2:00 pm
| seed = 1
| opponent = Boston University
| oppseed = 5
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| tv = CBSSN
| gamename = Semifinals
| score = 90–59
| attend = 2,925
| record = 24–9
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 7, 2018
| time = 7:30 pm
| seed = 1
| opponent = Colgate
| oppseed = 2
| site_stadium = Sojka Pavilion
| site_cityst = Lewisburg, PA
| tv = CBSSN
| gamename = Championship
| score = 83–54
| attend = 3,946
| record = 25–9
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Bucknell Bison}}| 2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 16, 2018
| time = 7:10 pm
| neutral = yes
| nonconf = yes
| seed = 14 MW
| opponent = Michigan State
| oppseed = 3 MW
| opprank = 5
| site_stadium = Little Caesars Arena
| site_cityst = Detroit, MI
| gamename = First Round
| attend = 20,314
| tv = CBS
| score = 78–82
| record = 25–10
}}
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| region= MW| regionname= Midwest| poll=AP Poll|timezone=Eastern Time}}
Source{{Cite web|url=http://www.bucknellbison.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=137628&SPSID=810386|title=Men's Basketball – Schedule – BucknellBison.com – The Official Site of Bucknell Bison Athletics|website=www.bucknellbison.com|access-date=2017-11-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/2083|title=Bucknell Bison Basketball 2017–18 Schedule – Bison Home and Away – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-11-09}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Bucknell Bison men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2017-18 Bucknell Bison men's basketball team}}